Comments: Can you love your dog too much?

“there is no love like that of a human and dlg. i have been very sick and away from my dabber doo for almost a month and i cry every day. i cant wait to see him. my first trip home from the hospital, he saw me coming and all i did was cry for about an hour as he gave me all his doggie love and kisses and cuddles hes missed.i had to go back because of a massive infedction that almost killed me, and thoim on the mend all i can think of is getting home to my family,which includes my dabber, and this time, i can only imagine the howls and nuttyness no doubt to ensue. there is not enough love in this world,and just because the love is a bond between a human and dog makes it no less impoertant than that between 2 people. love is love, no matter what form, and the world needs all it can get.” — Nickola, Oct 27 2009

“I'm glad you think about not coming home to your dog, but have you thought about and arranged for someone to care for him if you don't. I foster Great Pyrenees, one of whom was in the pound and almost euthanized because his owner died and there was no one to care for him. So make those arrangements for Uno so he won't end up back at the shelter.” — MsMuffit, Oct 26 2009

“Leslie I wish people would think about what would happen to their dog if they didn't come home. I foster Great Pyrs one of whom ended up at the pound because his owner died and didn't make arrangements for someone to care for the dog. The dog came very close to being euthanized except that we rescued him. So think about it and make arrangements for someone to take care of your dog should you cross the rainbow bridge before him” — MsMuffit, Oct 26 2009

“Leslie...NO, YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR DOG TOO MUCH !!!! :o) Actually, if we had more people like you to love our furry FOREVER friends, we wouldn't have the huge homeless population that currently exists ! It breaks my heart into a million pieces to see all these poor dogs who didn't ask to come into this world sit in shelters on borrowed time! To see homeless dogs running our streets scared, hungry and confused because some human decided they didn't want them any more. Sure dogs have their quirks but that's what makes them unique! I believe that having a pet is the pet owners responsiblity for the life of that animal! I currently have 2 rescue dogs and they are the best gifts I have received from God. I also had another rescue dog (a Rott/Shepherd mix) and had to put him down a year ago due to a rare allergy where he literally chewed the pads of his feet off. When he was a pup and before this disease consumed him, he was my jog dog and loved every minute of it. He was about 2 when his allergies started and progressively worsened. It got to the point that I couldn't take seeing him suffer. I would cry when I tried to dress his self inflicted wounds to his feet and the excessive scratching to his ears. I struggled with putting him down and finally realized that I was being selfish because I didn't want to let him go. It was, bar none, the hardest thing I have ever done and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him and wish I could bring that awful day back so he could be with me. He got robbed of life...he wasn't even 5 years old. I felt (and still feel) so much guilt, but have been reassured by my vet that I did the right thing. My husband and I spent thousands trying to find something, anything to ease his misery, but nothing helped. Sometimes while he was licking his feet he'd whimper because the foot he was chewing on would start bleeding, so we knew it hurt. I quit jogging because I couldn't add to his pain. Regardless, he so looked forward to jogging every day when I got home from work, so instead of jogging, I would take him for rides in the car and he grew to love that ! He just was always happy to be with us and he loved it when I would cradle his head and give him kisses and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He was so much a part of our lives and even though I have 2 wonderful dogs, there is still a void they can't (and don't expect them) to fill. I am crying as I'm writing this. I have a daughter who is out on her own, so I know the bond and tremendous love between a parent and child; however, the bond between pet owner and pet is just as strong. I had my Bear cremated and have a little sanctuary where I go and talk to him every day. I really miss him. So am I obsessed? I don't think so...I'm just an average person who loves my dogs as if they were my kids. When I look into my dogs eyes, I see pure unconditional love ! ” — Mary, Oct 26 2009

“Bravo, Leslie! You said it all! I actually adopted later in life, 2 girls from Eastern Europe who were already 4 and 5 years old. Our first instinct was to spoil them crazy, and we quickly learned how horrible spoiled kids are. But a dog? Totally different story. I have 2 teenagers now who want nothing to do with me, but my baby I can hug and kiss and spoil rotten and she'll still have the respect to treat me as the Alpha. Try getting that from a teenage girl.

And David, god bless you for your service. My husband works at least 14 hours a day under pretty thankless conditions, so he knows how important it is to come home to this little creature who's beside herself with happiness just at the sight of him.

There's no such thing as loving a dog too much. I only wish I could afford to love all of them that still need forever homes.” — skg, Oct 26 2009

“love this! I never had children so my little 10 pound poodle is a forever baby! she gives so much! I haven't been able to leave her for too long limiting my vacation choices to pet friendly locations.Oh, and her feet smell like fritos! LOL” — Karen Sara, Oct 26 2009

“Leslie Iam A Combat Veteran And I Was Stationed In Germany. And I Had a Hybered Wolf I never Tied Him Up Because My Adopted Family Had Enough Land For Him To Run Free And Me And Him Got Along Great As A Family. The Bad Part Was I Couldnt Bring Him Back I Cried Like a Baby And Yes Iam A Man But It Was Like Loosing A Son Yes I Spooled Him He Was AWESOME!!!! But Iam Out Of The Military I Have 2 Of The Wonderest Dogs That Puts Up With Me And All I Have PTSD (Post Tramic Stress DisOrder) I Also Have The Most OUTSTANDING AWESOMESET WONDERFULEST WIFE Ever That Puts Up With Me Also I Have My Days I Scream And Yell I Dont Touch Neither Of Them I Dont Want To Hurt No One And My Beautiful Dogs Come Running Up Wagging There Tails Loving On Me And It Just Hurts I Have A Big Horse Lab Mix And A Spitz Both Beautiful Dogs Also 2 Cats.. I Or We Cant Have Childern Because Of Me And Because Of DesertStorm I LOVE MY WIFE WITH ALL MY HEART I WOULD GAVE HER EVERYTHING I GOT AND HAVE BUT I LOVE MY DOGS ALSO LIKE THERE MY KIDS!!! So Leslie You Can Never ever Love Your Dog To Much Remember That!!! And Remember Something Else To THE DOG PICKS YOU MAMA NEVER EVER BE AFRAID SIT DOWN TAKE A DEEP BREATH THATS HOW I MET MY BLACKWOLF AND I MET ALSO 2 BEAUTIFUL ROTWEILERS TO BY DOING THEM SAMETHING IM TELLING YOU AND THEY CAME LAYED IN MY LAPS THESE 2 AWESOME BIG DOGS AND WENT TO SLEEP AND WE WERE FRIENDS!!!!!” — David, Oct 25 2009

“Leslie:

We can never love our dogs too much because of all the unconditional love they give us. I'm sorry but we just don't get that kind of love from humans.

My husband and I call our lab our grandson (kiddingly) because our children are grown and we take him on day trips with us. We don't decline invitations to other people's homes if he's not invited and I'm glad to see that you don't either. That would be a little over the top.

We miss him so much when we're on vacation. This time we're going to St. John for 2 weeks and while I can't wait to go I'm dreading being away from him for 2 whole weeks. I don't know how I'm going to manage. Last year we talked about him for the whole time when we were away. Forget the kids...we talked about the dog and saw him in every cloud.

Uno is a beautiful dog and I just can't believe that he doesn't have any Labrador in him. I think they mixed up his DNA results with another dog's :)” — ginny, Oct 23 2009

“I had to laugh - there are heaps of people like us around! I write endless lists with Benji's routine, words he knows, favourite toys/games and other instructions when I go away. Only a handful of people are "allowed" to look after him. And I have been known to race home to save him from a heavy rain shower only to find him happily sitting on his bed in the perfectly dry patio watching the world go by and wondering what the fuss is all about!
I take him to work when I know I'll work late, he comes flying and camping with us, visits my mother in law in the nursing home with us - and many of our friends invite him over instead of us!!! (we are allowed to come too because we have to drive him....)” — Birgit, Oct 22 2009

“Oh my word I could not have put it better. There IS someone else out there who is devoted to their dog.

I too absolutely love the way he looks when I am cooking dinner, the way he opens the washing machine and looks inside, this is a clue that he want to go in the garden.

I am absolutely smitten with this Springer Spaniel. He knows everything we want of him and he takes liberties at every opportunity. I simply cant imagine life without him.

Carole” — smileymiles, Oct 21 2009

Back to Can you love your dog too much?